Chapter 8

Adrelo adjusted his academy-issued uniform, glancing at himself in the mirror. His reflection surprised him. The weight loss from his former unhealthy habits had made his jawline more pronounced, and his silver hair, once a tangled mess, now fell smoothly over his forehead. His eyes-silver like polished steel-seemed sharper, more deliberate.

"Looking good," he muttered, smirking.

Gareth leaned against the doorframe behind him, arms crossed. "What, admiring yourself now? That's new."

Adrelo turned, shrugging nonchalantly. "If you've got it, why not flaunt it?"

"Flaunt it where?" Gareth shot back. "The cafeteria? The library? Oh, wait-maybe the combat field, where you'll get pummeled into a pancake?"

"Charming, as always," Adrelo replied. "And for the record, I'm aiming for 'not embarrassing myself.'"

"Good luck with that," Gareth muttered as they left the dormitory.

****

Combat class was a nightmare waiting to happen. The arena buzzed with energy as students prepared to spar. Adrelo fidgeted, his fingers tightening around the wooden staff assigned to him. Unlike others, his staff didn't glow with runes or shimmer with enchantments. It was just wood-because he didn't know how to wield magic.

"Pair up!" the instructor barked.

Adrelo's stomach sank as Gareth walked over, spinning his staff like he'd been born with it. "You're kidding me," Adrelo muttered under his breath.

"You didn't think I'd pass up the chance to beat some sense into you, did you?" Gareth smirked.

Adrelo groaned.

The duel started with a whistle. Gareth immediately lunged, his staff whistling through the air. Adrelo barely ducked in time, the wind from the strike ruffling his hair.

"Are you dodging or dancing?" Gareth called, aiming another strike.

Adrelo rolled to the side and scrambled back to his feet. He wasn't fast, but years of running away from responsibilities-and occasionally angry housekeepers-had given him decent reflexes.

The instructor, who was observing from the sidelines, crossed her arms. "Dierre, are you planning to fight or audition for a circus act?"

Milo, watching from the sidelines, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Ten coins says he lasts less than a minute!"

"Thanks for the support, Milo," Adrelo grunted, dodging another swing.

Finally, Gareth went for an overhead strike, and instinct took over. Adrelo raised his staff in a desperate block. The sound of wood cracking echoed across the arena as Gareth's strike rebounded, making him stumble slightly.

Adrelo didn't think-he swung wildly, aiming for Gareth's legs. To his shock, the strike connected, and Gareth toppled over, landing in a cloud of dust.

The arena fell silent for a moment.

"Did... did I win?" Adrelo asked, breathless.

Gareth, flat on his back, glared up at him. "I slipped, you idiot."

The instructor raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Barely competent, but I suppose it's a start."

As Gareth got to his feet, brushing off the dirt, he muttered, "Beginner's luck. Don't get used to it."

Adrelo grinned. "Oh, I won't. I plan to retire undefeated."

****

Adrelo tried to stay invisible during Advanced Magical Theory. He had no magical aptitude yet, and being noticed in this class was the last thing he wanted.

"Let's see how well you've all prepared," the professor said, her voice cutting through the murmur of the room. She turned to the blackboard and sketched out a complex magical array. "Who can explain the function of this sequence and its application in spell stabilization?"

Adrelo stared at the symbols, his pulse quickening.

They looked... familiar. His mind flashed back to the book he'd skimmed the night before, a thick tome he'd grabbed at random from the dormitory's common room. He'd only flipped through it out of boredom, but this exact sequence had been there.

"Adrelo Dierre," the professor said sharply, snapping him out of his thoughts.

His heart sank. Of course. Of all people, she had to pick him.

The class turned to stare, some with smirks, others with confusion. Gareth whispered, "This'll be good."

Milo added, "Don't blow it, genius."

Adrelo hesitated, then stood. He felt every pair of eyes on him as he walked to the board, the weight of his family's tarnished name pressing down on him.

He took the chalk and, without overthinking, began to replicate what he'd seen in the book. His hand moved almost on autopilot, rearranging the symbols and filling in gaps.

When he finished, he stepped back, half-expecting laughter or derision.

Instead, the professor tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Interesting," she said after a pause. "Correct, albeit a bit unconventional in presentation. Where did you learn this?"

Adrelo cleared his throat, his mind racing. "Uh... just something I read."

The professor arched an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Very well. Take your seat."

As Adrelo returned to his desk, Milo leaned over and whispered, "Who are you, and what have you done with Adrelo?"

"Pure survival instinct," Adrelo muttered.

****

That night, Adrelo was rearranging the books on his shelf when he noticed something wedged between two volumes. It was an envelope, old and slightly crinkled. His name was scrawled across the front in elegant handwriting.

Curious, he opened it and read:

"The paths you walk now were not chosen by chance. Seek the second floor of the library at the hour of twilight. Answers await."

Adrelo frowned. The cryptic tone was unnerving, and the library's second floor was restricted to senior students and faculty.

He folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket, glancing toward the window where the moonlight spilled onto the floor. Who had written it? And why him?

His gut told him it wasn't a prank. But whether that was comforting or terrifying, he wasn't sure.

****

The next morning, Gareth noticed the dark circles under Adrelo's eyes. "Let me guess, up late admiring your reflection again?"

Adrelo smirked. "Something like that."

Milo, munching on toast, piped up. "Don't tell me you were sneaking into the library. I don't think I can handle another lecture from the librarian."

"Relax," Adrelo said. "I stayed on school grounds. Mostly."

"Mostly?" Gareth raised an eyebrow. "That's not reassuring."

Adrelo shrugged, hiding the vial deeper in his pocket. Whatever secrets Mystevorne held, he wasn't ready to share them yet.

After returning to the dormitory from a grueling day, Adrelo sat on the edge of his bed, deep in thought. The letter's cryptic instructions gnawed at him, and though it didn't explicitly mention the library, he had a hunch.

He looked over at Milo, who was sprawled across his bed flipping through a comic book.

"Milo," Adrelo said, his tone casual.

"Hm?" Milo replied, not even looking up.

"Let's go to the library."

Milo froze mid-page turn, his head snapping up so fast it was a miracle he didn't strain his neck. "You actually visit that place?"

Adrelo shrugged, standing up. "What else would I do there?"

"Not exist," Milo replied dryly, narrowing his eyes as though he were staring at a ghost. "I mean, seriously. You-the infamous Adrelo, are willingly going to the library?"

Adrelo gave him a flat look. "Yes. I need to look something up. Are you coming or not?"

Milo blinked, clearly caught between disbelief and curiosity, then sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll go, but only because I'm afraid you'll get lost and the academy will blame me for not babysitting you."

Adrelo rolled his eyes and grabbed his bag.

****

The library was grand, with towering bookshelves that seemed to stretch endlessly toward the arched ceilings. The warm glow of enchanted lanterns illuminated the space, casting soft light over rows of desks and the occasional student buried in a pile of books.

Milo whispered as they walked through the aisles, "So... are we here to study? Or are you planning to smuggle snacks into the restricted section?"

Adrelo glanced at him, unimpressed. "What else would you do in a library? Of course, we're here to study."

Milo froze in his tracks, staring at Adrelo as though he'd grown a second head. "Who are you, and what have you done with the real Adrelo?"

"Get over it," Adrelo said, smirking faintly as he picked a table and settled down.

Milo reluctantly joined him, still looking suspicious. He didn't expect Adrelo to even touch a book, let alone open one, but his jaw nearly dropped when Adrelo selected a thick tome, flipped it open, and began reading in earnest.

The minutes ticked by in relative silence, save for the occasional rustle of pages. Milo tried to focus on his own book, but curiosity kept pulling his gaze back to Adrelo.

At first, it was just idle observation-watching for signs of the old Adrelo slipping through. But then he noticed something he hadn't before.

Adrelo's snowy hair caught the lantern light, giving it a soft, almost ethereal glow. His silvery eyes, focused intently on the page, were framed by delicate lashes that made them look impossibly striking. His features-sharp yet strangely gentle-gave him an elegant, almost fragile appearance.

Milo blinked, startled. Wait... why does he look so...

The thought trailed off as he realized he'd been staring far too long.

Adrelo, sensing the gaze, glanced up from his book. "What?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.

Milo's heart skipped a beat as he scrambled for an excuse. "Uh, nothing!" he blurted, quickly looking back at his own book. "Just surprised you're actually... reading."

Adrelo raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Right." He returned to his book, leaving Milo to stew in his embarrassment.

Milo, cheeks slightly flushed, kept his head down, determined not to let his mind wander again. But one thought lingered, unshakable despite his best efforts.

'When did Adrelo start looking like that?'

****

The peaceful hum of the library was interrupted by a quiet commotion outside. Whispers turned into excited murmurs as students began craning their necks toward the large windows overlooking the courtyard. Even Milo, who had been diligently avoiding another glance at Adrelo, couldn't help but perk up.

"What's going on out there?"

Milo muttered, peeking out the window.

Adrelo, still engrossed in his book, didn't look up.

"Probably some noble flaunting their wealth again. What else is new?"

Milo's response came as an awestruck whisper.

"Not just any noble. Him."

That caught Adrelo's attention. He followed Milo's gaze to see a group of students gathering near the main gates. In their midst, standing tall and poised, was a figure who seemed to command the very air around him.

It was impossible not to notice him. His dark blue hair shimmered like midnight waves under the sun, perfectly tousled yet regal. His obsidian eyes were sharp, calm, and unreadable, exuding an unshakable confidence that made it hard to meet his gaze.

His uniform-pristine and tailored to perfection-seemed like a crown in itself, but what truly made him stand out was the way the air seemed to bend to his will. A faint breeze swirled around him, gentle yet deliberate, as though even nature sought his approval.

"Who is that?" Adrelo asked, frowning slightly.

Milo turned to him, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You seriously don't know? That's Xaviel Alistair Raventhorn, the son of Duke Raventhorn. His family's the only bloodline of Aerokinesis users in the entire Breneille Empire."

Adrelo blinked. Raventhorn. He remembered the name from the novel. Xaviel was one of the male leads, the perfect blend of charm, power, and nobility-a walking storm in human form.

"What's the big deal?" Adrelo asked casually, trying to feign indifference.

Milo gawked at him.

"What's the– are you insane? He's practically royalty! The Raventhorns have been a cornerstone of the empire for centuries. Their aerokinesis is legendary! He's basically a walking weapon. And look at him-he's like, unfairly perfect!"

Adrelo glanced back out the window. Xaviel had already begun walking through the courtyard, his movements fluid and precise. The crowd around him parted like waves before a ship, their whispers growing louder.

"Yeah, looks like a typical rich kid,"

Adrelo muttered, though his tone lacked conviction.

As if sensing the attention, Xaviel suddenly turned his gaze toward the library window. For a moment, Adrelo felt as if those obsidian eyes were looking directly at him, piercing through the glass with an intensity that made his chest tighten.

"Uh-oh," Milo muttered, pulling back from the window.

"He saw us. Do not make eye contact."

"Why?" Adrelo asked, unable to look away.

"Because he's untouchable," Milo hissed.

"You so much as breathe wrong around him, and the entire Raventhorn household will hear about it."

Adrelo finally looked away, suppressing a sigh.

"You're being dramatic."

Milo crossed his arms, still keeping his head low.

"Trust me, you don't want to be on his radar. He's polite, sure, but he's not the kind of guy you can just... approach. He's like the empire's greatest treasure or something."

Adrelo hummed, but something about Xaviel's arrival unsettled him. If the novel's timeline was anything to go by, this was just the beginning of the chaos.